Call: 01392 678082

Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust

Latest news

Recent projects

  • Latest news

    18 Jun 2026

    School Reunion and Connections

    Last weekend, Simon Ruddlesden went back to school, to celebrate the retirement of an exceptional geology teacher, who, together with colleagues, has built a department that consistently ranks among the best in the country.  The results speak for themselves: over 50% of the year group now take GCSE Geology; 85% of A-Level students achieved A or A* last year.There are incredible numbers and inspiring teaching. However, despite decades of producing highly capable geology students, very few of them have ended up in the ground investigation / geotechnical / geo-environmental industry. A missed opportunity, perhaps?As discussed at the recent AGS annual conference (and elsewhere), we are hearing that there are fewer well-trained graduates entering our industry, and we are seeing fewer universities offering geoscience degrees and fewer schools offering geology at GCSE and A-Level. However, perhaps the biggest challenge of all is awareness. Ask a school-age student what a career in geology looks like, and you’ll likely hear “mining…oil and gas…quarrying”. Our industry is often not even on the radar. If students don’t know we exist, why would they ever choose this path? Why would they pick geology at university if they don’t realise it could unlock a rewarding career in our field?So, Simon will be going back to school again, not to study, but to share what we do, why it matters, and how rewarding it can be. The ground investigation/ geotechnical/ geo-environmental industry won’t be for everyone, but there could be an untapped pool of future engineering geologists and geo-environmental engineers out there; we just need to reach them earlier. Let’s make sure the next generation know we exist!If you know of a school that would like to hear what Simon has to say about working in the industry, please get in touch. 

    School Reunion and Connections
    School Reunion and Connections

  • Recent projects

    Rotary Borehole Rig Craned-In, in Devon

    Rotary cored boreholes were undertaken as part of a geotechnical investigation for the proposed retaining wall in North Devon. Restricted access meant that the drilling rig had to be craned onto the site. Cores of the rock were recovered and logged by our engineering geologist to confirm the strength, composition, and state and geometry of discontinuities within the bedrock, for use in the design of the proposed retaining wall, which was supporting a public highway and required to facilitate the development. Downhole geophysics was subsequently undertaken to provide further information on the fracture orientation and in-situ condition.

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  • Recent projects

    Dynamic Sampling was Preferred Method of Investigation in Devon

    Dynamic sampling (windowless sample boreholes) was utilised in a scheme of works for the proposed stabilisation and reinstatement of a quay wall. This was the preferred method for the initial geotechnical investigation at this site, as they allowed representative samples of the near surface soils to be obtained, facilitated Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs) and were able to be progressed down to depths of 6m-8m to determine the presence of engineering rock-head, all whilst keeping site disturbance and the areal extent of the site works to a minimum, allowing the adjacent car park to be in continued use without the need for closure. On completion of the ground investigation, the boreholes were either installed with monitoring wells, to facilitate long-term groundwater and/ or ground gas monitoring, or backfilled with natural arisings prior to reinstatement.

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